Metallic tie and rail-fastener.



D. F. UPDEGRAFF.

METALLIC TIE AND RAIL, FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. I914.

l ,206,055 Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL FRANK UPDEGRAFF, OF HUNKEBS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNQR TO DAVID O. BEISTEL, OF HUNKERS, PENNSYLVANIA.

METALLIC TIE AND RAIL-FASTENER.

Application filed October 26, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL F. UrnnoRArr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hunkers, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Metallic Tie and RaiLFastener, of which the following is a specification.

' The invention relates to improvements in metallic ties and rail fasteners.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of metallic cross ties and rail fasteners and to provide a simple,strong, and durable device of comparatively inexpensive construction, capable of firmly and securely holding the rails without the use of spikes, bolts, fish plates and the like, and adapted to save time in laying tracks.

A further object of the invention isto provide a cross tie and a rail fastener capable of effectively preventing any spreading of the rails and adapted to hold a broken rail firmly in place until the same is removed, and capable also of enabling worn and broken rails to be quickly replaced.

With these and other objects in'view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a substantially U-shaped metallic cross tie equipped with rail fastening means constructed in accordance with this invention, the rail being in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken longitudinally of the cross tie. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.' Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the rail supporting block. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the removable rail engaging key.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a metallic cross tie of approximately U- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

Serial No. 868,716.

shape, composed of spaced parallel sides 2 and a connecting bottom portion 3, and provided at each end with a rail supporting block or member 4 secured between the sides 2 by suitable fastening devices 5 piercing the sides 2 and the said block or member 1 which latter serves to join and brace the sides 2. The cross tie 1 may be constructed of steel or any other suitable material, and the block or member 4, which may be cast or forged, is provided with a rail receiving seat 6 and it has a rail engaging portion 7 located at one side of the seat and extending inwardly over the bottom flange S at one side of the rail 9, and forming a recess 10 to receive the said bottom flange. The rail engaging portion 7 has an upright web abutting terminal portion or face 11, which fits1 against one side of the web 12 of the rai The rail supporting block or member is provided at the other side of the seat 6 with an undercut passage or recess 13 adapted to receive a key 17 and extending below the said seat 6, and having an inner vertical wall 1 1, an outer vertical wall 15, and a top wall 16, which overhangs the adjacent side portion of the bottom flange of the rail and relieves the key of stress and assists the key in maintaining the rail in proper position. The inner vertical wall is arranged in the vertical plane of the web abutting face 11, and the key 17 has a fiat lower face 18 and is arranged upon the bottom 19 of the recess 18. The key, which looks and firmly holds the rail on its seat, is located at the outer side of the said rail and is provided at its inner side with a recess 20, receiving the outer side portion of the bottom flange of the rail and conforming to the configuration of the same. The key is provided at the bottom portion with an extension 21, which is located beneath the vertical plane of the web of the rail and fits against the lower vertical wall 14: of the block or rail supporting member of the cross tie. The upper portion of the key is provided with a vertical inner face 22, which fits against the outer face of the web of the rail, and the said inner portion has an extension 23, projecting above the upper face of the key and adapted to provide a relatively large inner rail engaging face, so that the key will firmly hold either a single rail or the adjacent ends of a pair of rails on the seat of the cross tie. The upper portion of the key is longitudinally shouldered, that is, it is'provided at the outer side with a recess 24, which forms an outer projecting portion 25 for engaging under the overhanging portion 16 of the block or member of the cross tie'. The sides 2 of the cross tie 1 are recessed or cut out at 25 to conform generally to the transverse key and aline with the rail and key receiving passage through the solid block or member 4: of the cross tie.

The key is provided at one end with a stop flange 26 which engages the rail supporting block or member at one end. The key is provided at the other end with a vertical perforation 27, adapted to receive a pin 28 which engages the adjacent end of the rail supporting block or member, whereby the key is securely held in its engaging position and in interlocked relation with both the block or member and the rail. When the pin is removed, the key may be readily dirven out of the key way formed by the recess 13, which permits the ready removal of the rail.

While only one end of the cross tie is shown, it will be understood that the cross tie be of any desired length for accommodating any number of rails to adapt the cross tie for binding together the rails of a double track and also for use at switches and various other points where it is desirable to mount more than a pair of rails.

T Vhat is claimed is A metallic tie and rail fastener, comprising a U-shaped metallic cross tie having each side wall cut out with the cut-outs in alinement, a block lodged in the tie between and fastened to and bracing the said side walls, one side of said passage having'its wall upright to engage one face of the web of a rail traversing the block and said wall having a recess to receive and embrace the base flange of the rail on one side of the web, and the other side of said passage be ing undercut and in spaced relation to the rail web and corresponding flange of the rail, and of a depth to extend below and beneath the base of the rail to substantially the vertical'plane of the web engaging upright side of the passage, and a longitudinally shouldered key adapted to the undercut portion of the passage through the block and of a width to bear against the adjacent face of the web of the rail, said key having a longitudinal recess to receive the corresponding side of the bottom flange of the rail and also having a bottom extension to lodge in that portion of the passage which is underneath the flange of the rail and to abut the firstnamed side of the passage, and said key having one end provided with a stop flange to engage one end of the block and the other end provided with a hole to receive a stop pin to engage the corresponding end of the block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in'the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL FRANK UPDEGRAFF.

Witnesses:

J. J. CAMPBELL, J. R. GAsWIoK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for vfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

